A crafty day out

My once a year indulgence in Exeter is the stitch and craft show by hobby craft that comes to town each year. Each year I am always amazed the the quilting exhibitions, this year also had the women's institute exhibition on smocking, which was lovely and reminded me of a wonderful our fit my mum had made me when I was young. There was also Jane Austin pride and prejudice outfits (one of my all time favourite books) I was also very taken back by the mixed media creative stitching, embroidery groups, I may even find out about them in my local area as there work was beautiful and contemporary. I did of course forget my camera and take a series of bad photos on my phone which I will save you from!

And yes I did! Buy a pile of fabric!

So do I have time for loads of dressmaking at the moment? Do I have a stash pile that is out of control? Did that stop me?????

This totally wonderful knit! I am in love, I think my plan will be to make a Christmas garment out of this beauty!

This lovely super soft jersey is busy but the colours are so subtle, how could I resist?

These really think cottons are for Christmas present making, I'll share with you later in the year!

Amongst the stalls there are lots of what I feel are overly cute stuff (not really my style) BUT I was taken back by one or two little projects that may be fun. Cross Patch have Lynette Anderson quilt designs that may be nice in the winter months. I have always felt the creative process and oh I can do that myself is actually hindering me from getting on, so I may treat myself to a ready made package of cuteness soon!

Refuge blanket completed.

I have been working steadily for a few months and I have finally finished my blanket. As you will know I do not really consider myself a knitter, scarfs and squares are about my limit, although I do dream!

So here we are a finished item! I chose a nice bright but not trashy pink and a neutral cream. I am pleased with the combination.

Each blanket had to be a certain size as I was making it for the refuge, a campaign by the knitter magazine against domestic violence. Si you can download a great booklet for Fancy squares and leave a donation, or you can make blankets or little knotted teddies instead. Follow the link and see loads of updates and great examples of other peoples work  http://theknitter.themakingspot.com/category/tags/refuge

I really enjoyed this project and hope to get my blanket bagged up and in the post this week. There is something really satisfying making something for other be it home made presents or a charity event. Lets do it more often. x x x

Craft workshop day.

In our little sleepy village in Devon, I consider myself lucky to so close to many talented men and women. I am a part of a arts and crafts group who have just had there first event, craft workshops, along with tea and cake of course! This is where a number of the talented came together and gave up their time and resources for free in a afternoon of fun. The list of goodies on offer were indigo dyeing

Screen printing

 

Wet felting

 

Crocheting

 

Pin felting

 

Painting new tableclothes for village events

 

Lots of scissors, sticking and paints for the young ones

 

And I ran a bunting stall, where I got to off  load some of my stash and have fun with everyone else!

 

It was such a lovely time, I really enjoy the get together crafting experiences, and I'm always on the look out for more. What made extra special was the realisation that my home is such a creative place! 

Knitting for a cause.

I was lucky enough to have an amazing day trip to London with my Mum and sister in the spring. We went to the Stitch and craft show at Olympia, it was really fantastic I didn't expect there to be so much. Although I am a fan of all quilts and sewing stuff I have to say this was one of the highlights for me

Yes these amazing blankets from the Simply Knitting Magazine stall. They had a campaign called Comfort Blanket in aid of Refuge. http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog/refuge-comfort-blanket-campaign-the-details

 

I was totally inspired.Every square was just wonderful. Firstly a way to improve my not very good skills, secondly and project that can build slowly. I was thinking a square for me a square for charity, what a way the to improve. 

I then noticed on the making spot/ simply knitting are doing it all over again! Yes the there is masses to be involved with, you can donate to refuge and get a e book full of these lovely designs above.

There is also a competition for designing your own square entries to be in by September 12th.

Pin Cushion Swap, come and join us!

Now everyone that is a sewer, dressmaker or crafter will be interested in this! 

Do you continually lose pins? Well what you will be needing is a new pin cushion, you know you can never have too many!

Today is a very exciting day, myself and Rachel from http://houseofpinheiro.blogspot.co.uk/ will be jointly hosting a pincushion or needle case swap.

Here is a lovely picture that you may add to your own blog if you wish.

 

here is a code for you 

<a href="http://charlottesewfarsewgood.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1084.photobucket.com/albums/j407/HouseOFpinheiro/Public/Untitled1.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Now lets me tell you a few more details about this swap, tempting you to join if I can.

1.   Anyone can join this swap, it’s open for internationally.You don’t have to have a blog to join.

2.   Please send your name address and email address to me at houseofpinheiro(at)hotmail(dot)com  or to Charlotte at charlottepowellbrooks (at) gmail(dot)com by May 21^st 2012.

 It would be nice if you could add a little introduction to yourself, including your blog name if you have one, so your swap buddy can drawn inspiration from.

3.   You will then receive the details of your swap buddy by May 26^th. If not, let us know.

4.   You are free to make pin cushions or needle cases or any variation that keep your pins and needles tidy. Want to make it a little kit. Feel free to spoil your swap buddy.

5.   The only 'MUST' rule is that you need make the item(s) yourself and use fabrics and notion from your stash (Lets de-stash your fabric scrap boxes, girls.)

You are free to buy felt or emery sand as those materials help keep your pins and needles sharp.

6.   Please have your pin cushion finished and posted to your swap buddy by June 5^th. 

We have great plans to help your ‘stash burst’ projects until the big reveal review on June 23^rd.

Sounds fun hey?

Even better, Rachel and I will have lots of other related pin cushion and needle case goings on until the  June 23^rd. So you can see there is plenty of time to join in, we will have tutorials, give aways lots of give aways, and related blogs to keep you inspired and sewing on through out the month.

It will be so much fun if you can join us, and if you would like to send a guest post or tutorial to either of us relating to the swap we would love to hear from you.

I'm so very very excited.

Community Quilt Project.

This post has been a long time coming! About a year in fact, when I started blogging I was so impressed by the support and creativity in this community I was inspired to do more. Here was the birth of a community quilt project. I gave everyone young, old, male, female, stitchers, non stitchers a blank square. All you had to do was decorate it.

After some time I got the square back and I have made a village quilt that is to have it's home in the village hall. A place that needs lots of love and making pretty, a perfect place then.

So today we hung the quilt and invited everyone along for tea and cake. So here is a our final quilt.

This Arthur's square he was the youngest (he had a little help)

These where my two squares

Plenty of tea and cake to go round!

We also used the village hall along side two lovely ladies that ran an event called Super Soup. For a donation to Christian aid you could some truely wonderful soups and home made bread.

All the hard work of making the quilt was really worth the lovely day  sitting around having soup then tea and cake. Villagers just dropping by for lunch and to see their square in the quilt, a really relaxed time but a real sense of community. I just love bringing like minded people together for crafts or food music whatever it just feels so great ( after all the worry of will any come or want to take part goes!)

I think I will really strive to work in groups more often.

PS a litle sneak preview of my OPOW!

Day Tripper.

Since the 1st of January I have been looking forward to my annual day trip to London. So get the fullest day possible I was on my train at 6.30am with a serious craft and dressmaking agenda. Meeting my Mum and sister when went to the stitch and craft show at Olympia. I was seriously impressed, there was so much! We didn't get as far as seeing the Downtown Abbey costumes or experiencing the paper craft which before I went was on the top of my list to try!

There was the most amazing quilt exhibition theme Olympics of course. There where hundreds and hundreds of quilts but this was amazing Hearts of Gold.

With so much to inspire I realised that little project can be more achievable and fun. I was taken by the cross stitch and I think I will have a go at some Easter cards.

There where some funny goings on too with knitted best cat and dog in show, so much fun.

What struck me most though in the knitting department was these wonderful blankets. As you may know my knitting isn't professional by any standard but I did think a square at a time.

I had a chat with the Simply knitting stall who explained that the blankets where apart of the comfort blanket campaign for Refuge. http://simplyknitting.themakingspot.com/blog/refuge-comfort-blanket-campaign-the-details  The squares had been designed by famous knitters and where available via an e book. They raised a amazing £2,049.50 .

 All I can say that they where stunning and inspiring and I feel that making a square for me a square for a charity maybe a really good little project of my own come this autumn. Any one interested in joining in?

As I said there was so much that I didn't see a fraction of it really being that we had lots of chatting to do to over coffees and lunch and wine ect. And to complete the shopping we went to Gold Hawk Road for dressmaking fabrics.

Thankyou Mum and Katy it was the best day!

CRAFIVISTS

I have been recently following Craftivist Collective http://craftivist-collective.com/ who state a spoonful of craft helps the activism go down. Well anyone who loves Mary Poppins and crafts as much as I do will have a friendship made in heaven!

There is a serious side, using craft to put across messages about human rights, environmental issues the list gos on as do the worlds in equalities. By highlighting issues hopefully we make the world think and act.

So my first attempt at craftism has take some time, I struggled with my message, I wanted it to come from the heart and also know enough about my comment that if I was challenged I wouldn't wilt away.
I though inspiration messages or quotes, then I thought something simple goes a long way. BE KIND, as simple as that. Then ofcourse the time spent sewing of which I chose to hand sew, I also spent time pondering the message for myself and how I hope it will inspire others.

So my inspiration bunting as the collective call it is placed in my village bus stop. Yes it's a little dark and dingy but the local notice board is housed here too so most of the village should get a peek and hopefully take some note.

As I was putting up my bunting an older lady asked what I was doing and said what a wonderful idea and not enough of us where very kind these days and could I make a be happy one too!

If the idea of prompting goodness has sparked an interest have a look at the website with a valentines project coming up http://craftivist-collective.com/  . There is also book for avid knitter called knitting for good by Betsy Greer.

Give it ago it's surprising how liberated you feel !

Thankyou Kat, presents from New Zeland.

My lovely postman dropped off a lovely gift today, all the way from New Zeland! I follow Kat's blog Modern Vintage Cupcakes http://macskakat.wordpress.com/ and was lucky enough to win a giveaway. Just look what I won :

Such great gifts, I'm planning to make a hairband and will use the spotty belt buckle. I love the patterns, although I may wait until the weather warms up to use them. The fabric envelope is made by Kat herself, I think my dairy will fit into it.

Have a look at Kat's blog it's really interesting, she has the most wonderful dresses,. inspired by vintage. I always love here photos, New Zeland just looks like the most amazing place to be.

Thank you Kat. x x x

Such a cool idea.

                             A directory for us bloggers, what a great idea. pop over and join in
                            http://craftyrie.blogspot.com/2011/10/universal-craft-blog-directory.html



Crafting in the community.

During my blogging time of just under a year I have come to really enjoy this past time. I feel that I have some real friends in a cyber world, I feel supported, inspired and encouraged along my journey of crafting, dressmaking, family and anything else that happens to come along. But what about 'real life', do any of you get involved in crafting projects within the community you live?
Recently I have started a community quilt project which is a massive task, and I'm just not ready to explain it all yet but there has also been some wonderful light relief too. The back ground to this post is that my local town holds a Christmas tree festival in the church where all sorts of groups, charities and business decorate their tree, over sixty in total.
I have been really luck to be involved in two trees. The first being Shobrooke angels (shobrooke is my little village). We had a workshop in the village hall (all 1940s fans would adore it) and we made peg angels. It was a lovely experience of young, old newcomers and old timer all getting together and having a real laugh!

Here we can see Arthur's little angel, who looks as if she has had a little accident!! He was very insistent on making it all himself, I just managed brief moments of putting it together. Some of the others really made some beautiful angels.

The second tree I helped to make decorations was WEN the women's environmental network they are a very worth while group and I urge you to take a look http://www.wen.org.uk/ . So for this group we wanted to up cycle our clothes or fabric stash to make hearts and stars. here was my offering

it was also a real enjoyment putting our decorations up and then bringing the family back to have a look at our own and every ones elses efforts.

                       the lace makers made about fifty of these and it took all year to do.

It has been a wonderful experience and I will now seek out opportunities to craft as a community or group again. Does other communities have projects that you get involved in?